Broiler grill and drif pan therefor



Sept .,7, 1943.

J. F. HENNESSY IBROILER GRILL AND DRIP PAN THEREFOR Filed June .9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 1943- J. F. HENNESSY 4 2,328,978

BROILER GRILL AND DRIP PAN THEREFOR Filed June 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Pjatnted Sept.

-a tionsotl Illinois 1 Appliic a d i'n w w e intothe d pangat-ithat onepoint. 1 The:

i d gri gbi mg ai -ignition;

eliixiination of all lot on drain holes in the g rillgthe eiibstai tiallyimperforate' grill" plate: 01? s l ab effect ally-slaieidipg" the; contents of the :drip reeeptacle from the ,heat oitheb umer;

Another importantyfeaturevof the i presentin verit-ion is thetprovision of a grill havintaicuta a faway jeo ne r portion: foyfaccess tma' oornerirwell the drip panics s em zingtray; and the proyision .1

of! a drip pan haviz g. a ledge in: the" diagonally smoking; or thepossibility;of'ignitioni 1 l The; invention is illustrated in: the; accompany-1 2.15, a longitudinal: seotibnioiii the line 2 2: -g 1;; U 1

too mu'efi exposure 'of the" contents of ttwldbiplf pan fti thefliz ectheat of" tfie buriiei Ellis} memmm; thepriiicipazl bj'ect-ofi myfinyen' Q tiomto provide abroiier griil"constructed50 as dig-avoid;these-objections? a msalient feature ofzthe grill b fnmy inventiohf eons'istse in the-provision. of: ai'ilargei'number of dnain grooyes ofgcdmparatively short-1ength; for: "directing; theqjuices fromwt-he middle ofi-th'e' grill-7 in ali direotions l for; diseharge into the: drip pan: oye -gthe-o teri edg-esz oi the grill instead of,v for xample, coeducting the; juiees from all: portions of; the wor king-asuffiaoe ,te onercomer" fori'dis sho enedtraveL-tog;the pointpof 'diseharge into p pan, n in miz es g expos meto: the heat: of; Burner, apd'm thatwaytherefis reduced they no her. impo nt'antifeatlire of J the: present "zrill ofza: broilerrgrill e in: aocordancejuwithumm inventiomti'll'us fietion'ibutiehowing e'd n a ie a ;1 opgitt din the grili ren ibvedg rii'olded l I I end's thereofa'rid "alreiilii elevated relationi to the pa ntertfie bodyto the. exteiit clearly indicated substantially idential constriction 'witli the: ar p pan exeptfthat Whereas the drippanfdj reelain ename e both foif cheep neSsahd toni'akeit better adapted to; ithst n 1 ran; "pefat ire's, tliejsefvjing', tray" is prefierablSr'fi ta nlessfsteel or chromium plated steel; mainly fin; attiaetive appjear arice 2 in iew" of its, 11156611 11 Di rixig thebroilirig operation, Ii the ledge l3 in the drip, pan 8;) s supportediri the usuall way tofu siredj elevatipfl ber eath the ur q igr a b'roiling'oveh of drawer'in a 'domest iefcopking' range.

1t11e 15roiii'ng dpemtib the gifill f1 istransf erre'dl 551 mm the dfib paxi w the serving tray" and car m eiidig qa am 1 weer:

arojas indicatedat l lfthefpotteribeing of co urse .moppos ite cornelf trom the welli in elevated relation; 40' serial prefembly Qt toythe yveilaz d Marra-nged' to: serve-as apartial" closure fon tl ercutawayi corrrerjpo 'tion of the; grill during tthejbroiling operation; thus;further a Shielding the: contentsaof; tqadnipppanfrom" the heatpflthe burner to minimizerthe likelihood;of

juices from themeat into the drip pan]; The. juice draining from grooves 11 2i runs down riedto the table so as to serve the steak or other meat sizzling hot. The serving tray being cold facilitates the handling of the grill and the no danger of the fat igniting or causing smoking.

The fact that the grooves l129 originate at or near a midpoint of the top surface is of imcarrying thereof to the table, and it protects the table against scorching so that there is no necessity for the use of special pads. The serving tray furthermore protects the table cloth against grease spots, At the time thegrill '1 is transferred from the-"drip pan 8 to the serving tray, juice may be ladled from the well l5, provided in one corner of the depressed central portion l6 of the drip pan, and poured over the, meat tomake it more delectabla an d the restof the w juice may be used in making gravy.

'Inaccordance with one important phase of my invention, the grill 1 has the body 9 thereof substantially imperforate in contrast to all other grills at present available on the market, so far as I am aware. Whereas these other grills have numerous holes or slots provided therein Sfor drainage of juices into the drip panduring the broiling operation, I have provided two seriesof. grooves on lines, radiating from} the cutaway" corner portion IIL'the inner series numbered l'l-2l being inclined toward thelcutaway corner'por- 'tion'lfl andthe outer series""numberedf22 29 being inclined in the opposite. direction toward the outer edges so and 3| of the grill body re- 'mote from the cutaway cornerlp'ortion' I0," All of these grooves] are of gradually increasing Width and depth rtow'ardjtheir discharge ,ends,

as illustrated by the flaring of these grooves in- Fig.1; The top of the-grillis formed to. provide oppositely slopingsurfaces 32 and 33 between the.

grooves, the radial lines 34 indicating the hi h points where these oppositely sloping surfaces in.

tersect midway between the adjacent grooves.

The edges 34 are allin apprcxi'mately the same horizontal plane above the lateral-ly sloping su'rfaces32 and33 and grooves 11 29, 50 that there is ample opportunity for juices to run down into the grooves from a steak or other meat resting on the grill in contact mainly with the; edges 34. .Preferably, however, the edges associatedwith the one group of grooves I l 2| are in a plane inclined downwardly to-a small extent from themiddle portion -35 of the top surface toward the cutaway corner por'tion 10, whereas. the edge portions 34' associated-with the grooves 22-29 are in-another plane inclined downwardly toasmall'extent" from the middle portion 35 of the top surface toward the outeredges 3i! and 3 l or thegrill. Inthat Way the middle portion;

35, where the meat is usually placed, isatfthe highest elevation and the surfaces slope down- Wardly on the opposite sides of this middle portion toward the corner portion.. on the, one hand and toward the outer edges and ,3l on the other hand for most efficient 'drainage of the arcuate edge-portion liI- atthe cutaway-corner of the grill and-drops intothe drip pan.;- The juice drainingfrom; the grooves 2-2 -29 is conducted downwardly at thejoutersedges 351' and:

3| of the grill into the drip pan throughcommunica'ting vertical grooves ilfi molded" in 'the, edgeportidnsillahd 3| ofthe body of the grilL; Theseigroovesjt; as clearly indicated: in Fig. 3,

are deep enongh in relation to the; width offthe ledge i3, on whichl the grill restsin the drip pan so thatfthe juices drain easily. into the panand will not tend to collecton the ledge.- With this construction the juices are conducted away,

from the 'rne at so quickly that there is :littlfir or;

portance, because that assures the shortest possible travel of the juices along the top surface prior to discharge into the drip pan. The short travel of the juices means less exposure to the heat of the burner and consequently less likelih'ood'f'of the fats smoking 'or. igniting]; The fact that the grill is substantially imperforate makes I it a more efficient shield for the contents of the drip pan, thereby further reducing likelihood of smoking and ignition.-

In accordance with another important phase of m inventiom'the drip pan 8 has the de- "p'res'sed central portion l6 thereof formedto provide aledge 31 in the corner of the pan; diagl onally opposite'the well l5 andlat an elevation grooves provided in the top thereofflextending below the level of the annular ledge 13 but appreciably above the bottom 38 of the depressed centralportion It, so as to serve ,as apartial closure for the v,cutaway corner portion: Ill of the grill 1 during the bro'ilin'g operation; Thelledge 317 .has the inner edge portionltil thereof ,struck on an arc slightly'greater than theradius of the cutaway corner'portion H! of the girillwith the center of the arc at the corner-cf the pan and substantially coincident with. the center of the arc l0, so that when the gril1 is;resting in the drip v pan -with the cutaway .corn er portion da thereof over theledge- 31, as shown ,in; Figs- 1 and 2, the ledge 31 registers"properly-withthe" cutaway corner portion of. :thegrill to shieldfurther the contents of the-drip pan from the heat of the burner and accordinglyminimize 'likelihood of smoking or ignitionf, 'Inpassing' it will be observed that the dripTpanfiB has-radiating from the corner juice collecting well I5 a series of grooves Ill-Ml to conduct-thej'drippings from all portions of the depressed'central poijtion 16 into the well l5. The groove's 4ll 44 increase in Width and depth toward the inner endswhere they communicate with the well, as indicated by 0 the flaring thereof, whereby to assurefgood drain age of juices into thewll. Depressed-portions' t5- -j4'l'are in the vicinity:of'threecorners of the pan and cooperate with" the depressed wellpor i tion l5'at' the fourthlco'rner to provide supp rt: ing feet in a common-plane so that the pan will drain receptacle from the heat of a broilerfburne'r disposed over the grill,"said grill having drain outwardly from an intermediate region of' said top surface to the outer edges of theig'r ill and downwardly along the outer 'edges for. drainage of juices from the top surfacejinto' the drip pan, the drip pan havingan' annular ledge prfi videdin the dished central portion in elevated relation to the bottom of said-dished jcentraF portionf'for support thereon of-the grill'by-its outer edge portion, said ledge being of reduced it s width in relation to the depth of the' downward- -1=y' dir ected outer portions? of the "grooves in said giil'lmeasuredinwardly from the outer edge of grill; wherebytofaciIitatedIainage of juices 4 past saidledge intoYthe-drip' pan, A

I A broiler device'comprisingf'in combina tion, a generally rectangular drip pan having'a depressed central portion forming a drain rejcep tacle, and a generally rectangular grill rev-i movahly seated on saidfpan over saidgdepre'ssed portion presenting atop surface forfsupport thereon of foodtof'bebroiled, said grillservirrg to 'shield the contentsfof said drain receptac e from the heat of abroiler burner disposed over grill' remote fromthe cutaway corner portion for drainage of juices into' th'e drain receptacle through said grooves;

5. A broiler device comprising in "b'oinbiha tion,a generally rectangular drip pan having a depressed central portion forminga drain receptacle, and a substantially imperforate and generally rec tang ulargrill removably seated on said pan over said depressed portion presenting aftopsurface for support thereon of food to be broiled, said grill serving to shield the contents of said drain receptacle from the heat of a broiler burner di'sposed 'o ver the grillione cornerporthe grillfonef corner portion of saidgi'illbeing away forcomrnunication with the drain receptacle, saiddrip panhaving a juice collecting well "in one corner, of the depressed-central portionthereof and having anfelevated ledge formed in the diagonally opposite cornerof said depressed central" portion; the-cutaway corner pbrtion'of said grill'in one position of the gri l relative to the pan being disposed in register" "w'lth' andabove said ledge so' that the ledge shields the contents of said drain receptacle from the heat of the burner, said-cutaway cornerpo'rtion being'r egistrab le with the juice collecting well in a reversed position of said grill.

" 3. A broiler: device comprising, fin combinaft'ibnfia generally rectangular-drip pan having a depressed central portion forming a drain reportion presenting "a top" surface for support a thereon of food to be broiled said grill serving to shieldthe contents of- -gsaid drain receptacle fromthe heat of abroilerfburner disposed over the grill, one corn-er porti'on of said grill-being cut away for commnnicationwiththe drain receptacle,'said drip panhavinga juice collecting well in one corner or the depressed central per; tion thereof and having an elevated ledge forrned in another corner flf ia l depressed central po'rtion, the cutaway corner portion of saidlgrill in one position of the grill relative ftofli tl'ie pan being disposed in register jwithand jahave said ledge so that the ledge shields the contents of :tiontof said grill being "cut away for" cornmuni ication with the drainredeptacle, said grill having two sets of grooves provided in the top surface thereof on lines radiating from the cutaway corner portion; the "one set of groovesextending from an"intermediate 'regionof thetop surface and communicating with the" cutaway corner portion for drainage of juices tosaid corner portion, the other set of grooves: extending from theintermediateregionof said top' surface to the outer edges of"said 'grillremotefroin the cutaway corner portion for drainage of a juices tosaid outeredges, the drip pan having l cepta'cle', andfa generally rectangular grill removably seated on said PZlIT'OVElfSdld depressed tents of the "drain r-ec'eptacle from the heat of the burner, the cutaway corner portion offthe grill in" another position of the grill registering with the juice collectingfli'ell' in said s 6. A "broiler idevic'e comprising; in combination, a'genera-lly rectangular drip panhavlng V a depressed central portion forriiing a drainree said drain receptacle froni the heat of the burner; said cutaway come-r portion being registrable with; the juice collecting well in a another position of said grill.

a depressed centralfportionj forrningia drain receptacle, anda substantially irr periorate and "sai'dpan' over said depressediportibn presenting a top surface for supporttl'iereon of food to be broiled, said grilli servi'ng to. shield the contents of "said drain receptaclejrom, the L-"he'atf or a 'jhroiler burner disposed. over the 'grillgone cot-1 ner portion of "said ,grilfbeing cutaway forcen? l im'u'm'cation withfthe drain receptacle, said grill T h ving two sets ofig'rooves.providedin thetop surface thereof on lines 'radiatin-girbm the cutaway corner poradfii'the; one set j grooves ex-v tending from anintermediate region of the top i surface and communicating withthe cutaway corner portion for drainage of juices into the drain receptacle through said corner portion, the other setof grooves extending from the intermediate region of said top surface to vertically extending grooves'provided in spaced substantially parallel relation in the outer edges of said 4. A broiler'device "coniprising in: conrbination agenerally rectangular dripgpan having generally rectangular grill jrjemhvajhly seated ceptacle, and a substantially imperiorate and generally rectangular "grill' 'rer'novably seated en said pan over said depressed portion presenting a. top surface for support thereon of f ood to be broiled; said grill serving to Shieldthe contents of it said drain receptacle from "the heat' of a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one corner portion of said grill beingcut away for coin munication with the-drain receptacle; said grill having ithetop surface thereof formedto slope downwardly from. anlintermediateregion of the top surfacetoward the cornerfportion and so as to'slope downwardly frornbsaid intermediate gion toward theouter edges of said grill remote from the corner portion, thedrip pan having a juiicevcollecting' well formed in one corner of the depressed central portion =ata lowelevation l relative to the rest of the central portion and havingiani elevated ledge formed in another cor ner of the depressed centraliportion; the cut away corner portion of the grill being arranged in-zone positio-nof the grill to register with' said elevated ledge so that the ledge shields the contents of the-drain receptacle from the heater the bunaergthe cutaway corner portion 0f the grill in anothervposition of the'igrill registering withthe jl-iice collecting 'well in saidpan.

7. A broiler-device comprising, in combination, a drip pan having a depressed central portion forming a drain receptacle, and a grill removably seated on said pan over said depressed portion presenting a top surface for support thereon of food to be broiled, said grill serving to shield the contents of said drain receptacle from the heat of a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one edge portion'of said' grill being cut away for communication withthe drain receptacle, said drip pan having a juice collecting well at. one point in the marginal portion of the depressedcentral portion thereof and having'an elevated ledge formed in another marginal portion of said depressed central portion, the cut away edge portion of said 'grill in oneposition of the grill relative to the pan being disposed in register with and above said ledge so that the ledge shields the contents, of said drain recepto shield the contents of said drain receptacle ,from the heat of a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one edgeportion of said grill -bein-g 'cut away foroommunication with the drain receptacle, said drippan having a juice collecting well at one point in themarginal portion of the depressed central portionthereof and having an elevated ledge formed in another marginal portion of said depressed central portion, the cut away edge portion of said grill in one position of the grill relative to the pan being disposed in register with and above said ledge, the ledge having the top surface-thereof spaced slightly below the bottom of the cut away edge portion of the grill-to permit drainage from the .grill oversaid ledgeintotthe depressed central portion of the Dan, said cut away edge portion being registrable with the juice collecting well in another position of said grill.

9. Abroiler device comprising, in comb-ination, ,a generally rectangular drip pan having a depressedcentral portion forming a drain receptacle, and a generally rectangular grill removably seated on. said pan over said depressed portion presenting a top surface for support thereon of food. to be broiled, said grill serving to shield the-contents ofsaid drain receptacle from the heat of a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one-corner portion of said grill being cut away forcommunication with the drain re+ ceptacle, said drip pan having a juicecollecting well in one cornerof the depressed central por tion thereof and having an elevated ledge formed in another corner of said depressed centra1 portion, the cutaway corner portion of said grill in one position of the grill relative to the 'pan being disposed in register with and above said ledge so that the ledge shields the contents of said drain receptaclefrom the heat of the'burner, said ledge and the cutaway corner portion of said grill being so formed and related. when the cutaway corner portion of said grill is disposed in register with and above said ledge that a drain passage is provided between said ledge and cutaway corner portion for drainage of'juices from the top of the grill into the drain receptacle, said cutaway corner portion being other positionof said grill;

registrable with the juice collecting well in an- 10. A broiler device comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular drip pan having a depressed central portion forming a drainreceptacle, and a substantially imperforate and generally rectangular grill removably seated on said pan over said depressed portion presenting a top surfacefor support thereoniof food to be broiled, said grill serving to shield the con tents of said drain receptacle from the heatof a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one corner vvportion of said grill being cut away ,for

communication with the drain receptacle, said surface and communicating with the cutaway cornerv portion for drainage of juices into the drain receptacle through said corner portion, the other set of grooves extending from the intermediate region of said top surface to vertically extending grooves provided in spaced substantially parallel relation in the outer edges of said grill remote from the cutaway corner portion for drainage of juices into the drain receptacle through said grooves. Y 11. A broiler device comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular drip pan having a depressed central portion forming a drain receptacle and a marginal ledge for support of a grill, and a substantially imperforate and generally rectangular grill re-movably seated on said ledge over said depressed portion presenting, a top surface for support thereon of food to be broiled, said grill serving to shield the contents of said drain receptacle from the heat of a broiler burner disposed over the grill, one corner portion of said grill being cut away for communication with the drain receptacle, said grill having;the top surface thereof formed to slope downwardly from an intermediate portion of the top'surfacetoward the corner portion fo-rdrainage of juices from the top of the grill into the drain receptacle, and said top sur face being further formed so as to slope down: wardly from said intermediate portion toward the outer edges of said grill remote from the corner portion, the outer edges of said grill remote from the corner portion and the ledge being so formed and related to one another'to provide a plurality of drain passages between the grill and ledgespaced longitudinally of the said edgesof the grill fordrainage of juices from the to of the grill into the drain receptacle.

12. A' broilendevice as set forth in claim .11,

' whereinthe drip pan has a juice collecting well in one corner of the depressed central portion 

